Jeremiah 4:23-29

New International Reader's Version

²³ I looked at the earth.
    It didn’t have any shape. And it was empty.
I looked at the sky.
    Its light was gone.
²⁴ I looked at the mountains.
    They were shaking.
    All the hills were swaying.
²⁵ I looked. And there weren’t any people.
    Every bird in the sky had flown away.
²⁶ I looked. And the fruitful land had become a desert.
    All its towns were destroyed.
    The Lord had done all this because of his great anger.

“The whole land will be destroyed.
    But I will not destroy it completely.
²⁸ So the earth will be filled with sadness.
    The sky above will grow dark.
I have spoken, and I will not take pity on them.
    I have made my decision, and I will not change my mind.”

²⁹ People can hear the sound of horsemen.
    Men armed with bows are coming.
    The people in every town run away.
Some of them go into the bushes.
    Others climb up among the rocks.
All the towns are deserted.
    No one is living in them.